FILMING of a new horror movie is about to start in the North-East.

Sinema: The Movie is the brainchild of Newcastle writer, Rod Glenn, and County Durham director, Kev Harte.

The movie has been adapted from the best-selling novel, Sinema: The Northumberland Massacre by Rod Glenn, which was published in 2010.

The story tells of a newcomer to the small Northumberland village of Haydon, a novelist apparently researching for a new crime thriller about a serial killer.

As a dreadful winter closes in, a snowstorm traps the villagers along with two police officers and the novelist is revealed as a monster intent on slaying the 392 village residents and writing about the events.

Director Kev Harte said: “The North -East has a great many locations ideal for filming. The dramatic scenery and rugged, isolated landscapes bring a beautifully dark atmosphere to Sinema.

“The area is rich in talent and we have received dozens of applications from local artists with experience in both professional and independent productions,”

Casting includes actor Nicholas Vince, who featured in Hellraiser (1987), Hellraiser II (1988) and Nightbreed (1990) and actress Eileen Daly, known for Razor Blade Smile (1998), N[eon] (2002) and Life. Love. Regret. (2013).